TL;DR
- Ellen from Virgin Island opens up about her coming out journey.
- She faced challenges due to her religious background.
- The show helped her gain confidence and find community.
- Ellen now embraces her identity and seeks connections.
- She shares her experiences of intimacy and self-acceptance.
Meet Ellen, the fabulous 35-year-old from Hayward’s Heath, who’s making waves on Channel 4’s hit show Virgin Island. Since its return on April 27, Ellen has been a beacon of bravery, diving headfirst into her struggles with intimacy and self-acceptance. But let’s not sugarcoat it: her journey has been anything but smooth. Coming out as gay later in life, she’s faced her fair share of hurdles, especially with her religious upbringing.
In an exclusive chat with PinkNews, Ellen spills the tea on how her time in church was more of a roadblock than a support system. “I thought going to church would help me meet people,” she recalls. “But all I heard was that ‘marriage is between a man and a woman’ and that sex outside of marriage is a sin.” Talk about a buzzkill for a girl trying to figure herself out!
After a revelation involving a close female friend, Ellen realized she was attracted to women. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, I really fancy you,’” she laughs, reflecting on that pivotal moment of self-discovery. But when she confided in her church community, the reaction was less than supportive. “They told me to speak to the pastor about it, but I knew conversion therapy was a no-go,” she explains. So, she packed her bags and left the church behind.
Fast forward to 2023, and Ellen finally came out to her dad, identifying as bisexual at first. “I thought that would be less of a blow,” she jokes, but her dad was incredibly supportive. Her mum? Well, let’s just say she found it easier to digest Ellen’s appearance on Virgin Island than her coming out.
On the show, Ellen found herself surrounded by a supportive LGBTQ+ community, which was a game-changer. “I didn’t have much experience within the community, so I was keen to gain some queer friends,” she admits. The therapy sessions and workshops helped her tackle her anxiety about intimacy, and she found strength in sharing her story with others.
“The fact there were other people that were accepting of me was an added bonus,” Ellen shares. “Everyone was really lovely. It’s amazing to hear everyone’s stories when they’re coming out.” And let’s be real, who doesn’t love a little community support?
Since coming out, Ellen feels like a new woman. “I just feel like I don’t have to hide,” she beams. “I can look in the mirror now and not feel disgusted.” From struggling with body image to actually enjoying a bath (yes, bath time is back on the agenda!), Ellen’s transformation is inspiring. “At church, we were told that even lust was a sin. How are you supposed to find someone attractive if you can’t even look at them?”
Ellen’s newfound confidence has her stepping out of her comfort zone and into the world. She’s been hiking with Dykes Who Hike and is on a mission to find her people. “I turned up at Epping Forest for my first walk and was like, ‘Oh, this is where all the dykes have been hiding all my life!’”
It’s clear that Virgin Island has been more than just a reality show for Ellen; it’s been a catalyst for change. “People think they’re going there for sex, but it’s so much more than that. The support around it is incredible,” she says. With her rainbow bracelet at the ready, Ellen is ready to embrace her identity and find love in all the right places. Tune in to Virgin Island on Mondays and Tuesdays at 9pm on Channel 4 to follow Ellen’s journey and cheer her on as she continues to live her truth!